LF Advice: Rec. Hockey Incident

[StoneCole]

hey folks,

I am hoping to get some thoughts/feedback from the community regarding an incident which occurred at my rec. hockey game. If any lawyers want to comment also this would be of great interest to me.

Here's a brief account of the incident:

1. Myself and a player from an opposing team were issued minor penalties for roughing.
2. In the skate to the box, the player and I exchanged some words. For the most part it was just typical hockey bs, but the player did make one comment which caught me by surprise:

"shut the ###### up you ['race'] piece of "s**t"

3. In the penalty box, I requested that the timekeeper provide me with the name and number of the player (for the purpose of potentially reporting what was said). The timekeeper refused.

4. I persisted. Upon asking for the players name/number the third time, the timekeeper again refused, and also made the following accusation, stating that he would not provide me the other players name/number because:

"[I] was the one who started the racist bulls**t"

5. My immediate response was to firmly (perhaps too firmly) deny his false (and damaging) allegation, stating:

"that's ######ing bulls**t, I never said anything racist"

6. The timekeeper then had me ejected from the game.

At this point, feeling as though I've been pretty thoroughly wronged, I began considering writing a letter to the league.

7. Today I find out that I was issued a gross-misconduct, which carries a minimum 2 game suspension.

So in summary:

1. I was the victim of a prejudiced verbal attack

2. I was then falsely accused of being the one to make a prejudiced verbal attack.

3. I was ejected and in essense given a two game suspension for the above.

Now I'm not going to sit here and tell you all I was some angel. I was loud, I said some curse words, but at the end of the day, I really do feel victimized here. Thoughts??

Thanks for your time.

[Clarkey]

Aren't you a honkey?

[Pizza]

did you ever get his name and number?

[4X4]

Was it a funny insult?

[Jbo]

Go on to the website of the league you play in and look at the box score. He should have a roughing penalty with his name and number. Also should have timekeepers name.

Once you get that send it to the administration of the league. Explain the situation and you want to appeal the suspension.

[SportsJunky]

I've always said the problem with hockey - too many Albanians.

[Byrns]

Was this in the Amish league? I hear they're pretty dirty players.

[Travis Munroe]

at the end of the day its going to be your word vs his (unless you had several people hear it). The timekeeper is obviously on his side. While what he said was obviously disgusting I think your best off forgetting about it.
Not because I see not big deal but I think it would be a big waste of your time trying to fight a battle that doesnt look like you can win. Then again, it depends on how much time you have

[metallicat]

It's hockey, people say things they shouldn't due to the situation. Not saying it's right, but that's what happens unfortunately. Best thing to do in men's league is just keep your mouth shut.

[Bill Bumface]

I think the big thing you guys are missing is the 2 game suspension. I think the OP would be a different degree of pissed if he wasn't missing 2 games of hockey that he looks forward to and more importantly has paid for.

So:

#1 Racial comment made to him (who cares what race he is, this is really just setup for #2)

#2 Accused of making racist comment(s). Brutal accusation and never one that should be thrown around.

#3 Misses 2 games of hockey (probably about $40 worth).

I don't think it's anything to just "Oh well, move along" from. But I think the fact the scorekeeper took the side of the other player immediately (and coincidentally was the same race as that player) makes it pretty hard to get anywhere near justice here, and the OP has to tread carefully, hence his coming on here for advice.

[Northendzone]

Does your league allow you to appeal? That is likely your only recourse.

In our first game this year I learned a valuable lesson about jawing as one of our guys and a guy from the other team got in a pushing match and were separated by the refs. As they were being escorted off the ice they got talking again and eventually the refs let em go at it. First time I ever saw that in a men's league, made me think that I need to shut my yap as I have not been in an actual fist fight since grade 8 and I have never thrown em on the ice so I'd likely get tuned on and then have to live through a season of hearing it from the boys and the wife not to mention explaining it to my son.....

[bc-chris]

in my men's league you don't really talk to the time keeper (so i'm told... being a goalie i don't really spend time in the sin-bin)

i know of an incident late last season when something was said to the time keeper - she packed up her stuff and left mid game.

what you probably should have done was talk to the ref.... and i mean TALK... beaking and going off on the ref never ever helps... in our league it gets you tossed. if that would have been unsatisfactory then you (or in my league it would be the team captain) would talk to the league coordinator

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

It's hockey, people say things they shouldn't due to the situation. Not saying it's right, but that's what happens unfortunately. Best thing to do in men's league is just keep your mouth shut.

agreed... I have a guy who used to be a friend before moving to another team just to " win a championship cause we sucked" say to me "If you were a better driver your 1st wife would still be alive" during a skirmish on the ice. ( my first wife died in a car wreck and I was with her but not driving.) I just let it go since he said it while 1 ref had me by the jersey and the other ref was in between me and him. It was disrespectful, cowardly, and ridiculous but what can you do. He eventually apologized but everyone on my team looks for him with his head down now , even though its a non contact league. Its a penalty well worth it every time in our books.

P.S our team beast his team out of the playoffs this season so he didnt win that Oklahoma City mens league championship he coveted so bad. Best part of the season for me!

[greyshep]

Ahhh, rec hockey.... where reasonable people turn into different creatures as soon as a scoreboard is turned on.

[Ducay]

I understand that he identified you by your race, but how is that actually racist? If he used some form of derogatory term or a racist connotation then maybe, but if he just calls you your race, then I don't really get the racism. (Not that calling people by their races is totally cool, but it certainly impacts the gravity of his words)

For example (racist example warning)

Cool: "dang you, you arab"
Uncool:

Spoiler!

"dang you, you terrorist"

Really depends on what he said. Either way I'd appeal to get back in for the 2 games. Oh, and leave the timekeepers alone, its the ref's job to deal with you.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by StoneCole

hey folks,

I am hoping to get some thoughts/feedback from the community regarding an incident which occurred at my rec. hockey game. If any lawyers want to comment also this would be of great interest to me.

How exactly, besides looking to cash in, might a lawyer help make this situation any better for you?

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

agreed... I have a guy who used to be a friend before moving to another team just to " win a championship cause we sucked" say to me "If you were a better driver your 1st wife would still be alive" during a skirmish on the ice. ( my first wife died in a car wreck and I was with her but not driving.) I just let it go since he said it while 1 ref had me by the jersey and the other ref was in between me and him. It was disrespectful, cowardly, and ridiculous but what can you do. He eventually apologized but everyone on my team looks for him with his head down now , even though its a non contact league. Its a penalty well worth it every time in our books.

P.S our team beast his team out of the playoffs this season so he didnt win that Oklahoma City mens league championship he coveted so bad. Best part of the season for me!

You're a bigger man than I am. If that dude would of said that to me his wife would hear " if your husband wasn't a dumb ass he would still be alive"..

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by PIMking

You're a bigger man than I am. If that dude would of said that to me his wife would hear " if your husband wasn't a dumb ass he would still be alive"..

Yup. That's dirty dirty pool. That should earn a talking too from his own team.

[Baaarrden]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I understand that he identified you by your race, but how is that actually racist? If he used some form of derogatory term or a racist connotation then maybe, but if he just calls you your race, then I don't really get the racism. (Not that calling people by their races is totally cool, but it certainly impacts the gravity of his words)

For example (racist example warning)

Cool: "dang you, you arab"
Uncool:

Spoiler!

"dang you, you terrorist"

Really depends on what he said. Either way I'd appeal to get back in for the 2 games. Oh, and leave the timekeepers alone, its the ref's job to deal with you.

I disagree with this. It is totally racist to bring anything about another person's race into something where it could be left out. If he had just said "Shut the ###### up, you piece of s**t", then you could just brush that off as emotions running high in a game. BUT, the fact he did bring in that racial aspect, directed it at the OP, and used it in a derogatory way, makes it a completely racist and uncalled for.

Also, it's not like the OP was harassing the timekeeper, he simply asked for the name and number so that he could have it handy, should he decide to make a complaint to the league about the incident. IMO, the timekeeper seems like a d****ebag. If he had a problem with the OP, he should have got the refs attention himself and had the refs deal with him, instead of unfairly tossing him out for a situation in which he had an obvious bias in favour of the other player.

[robocop]

I think you swearing back pretty much screwed it up for you. If you had been passive the whole time it would have been fine, but just let it go is my advice, no one is going to take your side when you were equally aggressive